November 11, 2009

Pro Patria

Today on Veterans' Day, we honor all those who have served our nation.

Former outstanding student-athletes such as footballers Jim Mooney '30, Al Blozis '42, and Robert Duffey '44 in World War II, and more recently, Terry Barnich '75 in Iraq all lost their lives on behalf of their country.

Today on Veterans' Day, we honor all those who have served our nation.

Former outstanding student-athletes such as footballers Jim Mooney '30, Al Blozis '42, and Robert Duffey '44 in World War II, and more recently, Terry Barnich '75 in Iraq all lost their lives on behalf of their country.

Former teammates: Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey and Navy Captain Ken Crim

The U.S. military has also drawn many first-class leaders from the ranks of the Hoyas including James Jones '66, George Casey '70, Ken Crim '73, Dave Stapleton '95, and Miles Kass '08.

Many other Hoya athletes have served and sacrificed their lives over the past century. I have written about several of these individuals in the following linked blog posts:

One former Hoya hero I have not written about heretofore is ‘Big Jim’ Mooney, class of 1930 and a member of Georgetown's athletic hall of fame. The following is excerpted from The Pike County Courier (PA) this past week:

“Big Jim” was born in Chicago, Ill. on Sept. 16, 1907. Recruited by Hall of Fame coach Lou Little to the Hilltop, where he captained the Georgetown University football team, he was named an All-America lineman and punter. During the 1930 East-West Shrine Game, he captained the East team to at 19-7 victory.

After graduating with a BA in psychology, Jim joined the still young National Football League, where he played from 1930 until 1935 for the Bears and Cardinals as an All-Pro lineman, kicker and punter. Following his departure from the NFL, he coached for Columbia University, as well as the New York Yankees of the “American Professional Football League”.

Big Jim’s father had spent his entire career in the Chicago police force, and retired as the chief of detectives. In 1937, in order to please his father, Jim Mooney became a Chicago police officer, continuing the family tradition. After six years on the Chicago police force, he joined the Army on November 20, 1943.

On Aug. 12, 1944, while serving as a Corporal in the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, Jim Mooney was killed near Sourdeval, France. He left behind a young widow and two young sons, 10-year old James III, and two-year old Philip.